automatichttp://www.maximumpc.com/taxonomy/term/10012/
enForget The GTX 690: The Cloud-Based "GeForce Experience" Could Mean More For PC Gaminghttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/forget_gtx_690_cloud-based_geforce_experience_could_mean_more_pc_gaming
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u138055/nvidia_meant_to_be_played_0.jpg" width="228" height="219" style="float: right;" />The <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/nvidia_announces_dual_gpu_gtx_690_set_release_may_3rd">Nvidia GTX 690 is real, and it's amazing</a> -- both in specs and in price. But while the tech world swooned at the announcement of the dual-GPU behemoth, another new product outlined at the GTX 690's unveiling holds even more intriguing potential for the gaming world at large: the cloud-based "GeForce Experience," which promises to automatically optimize the graphics settings in games based on the components in your individual PC.</p>
<p>It's all based around an Internet connection and (presumably Nvidia-powered) GeForce Experience supercomputers, which scan your system configuration when you boot up a game. Hardware components, operating system, driver status -- it'll all make a difference. After launching a game, you'll be presented with a listing of default game settings alongside a listing of settings recommended by Nvidia for achieving the maximum eye candy possible with your PC. One simple click activates the optimal settings.</p>
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wWeEPo_YZxA?version=3&amp;feature=player_detailpage" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wWeEPo_YZxA?version=3&amp;feature=player_detailpage" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object><p>The GeForce Experience is remarkably ambitious, but it could also be remarkably handy for the everyday gamer; Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang claims that a whopping 80 percent of players never adjust game settings away from default configurations. He (perhaps unwisely) likened the GeForce Experience to console gaming -- just pop on a game and it looks as good as it possibly can. Usually, PC gamers turn their noses at any console-inspired ideas, but this one could actually end up being a major boon for hardcore fraggers who hate fiddling with resolution and graphics quality settings. (Assuming that Nvidia can actually pull it off, of course.)</p>
<p>Expect to see a beta on June 6th, and expect to hear data-mining privacy concerns soon thereafter.</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/forget_gtx_690_cloud-based_geforce_experience_could_mean_more_pc_gaming#commentsautomateautomaticGaminggraphics settingsjen-hsun huangnvidiaPC gamingsettingssupercomputerNewsMon, 30 Apr 2012 18:06:27 +0000Brad Chacos23233 at http://www.maximumpc.comFirefox Add-on of the Week: Restartless Restarthttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/firefox_add-_week_restartless_restart-411
<!--paging_filter--><p>There’s a certain irony, nay, humor in an add-on that’s called “Restartless Restart.” But this isn’t just some lame play on words worthy of inclusion in a typical David Murphy column. No, the developers of this Firefox add-on are completely serious in their task: Their extension requires no closing and reopening of your Firefox browser whatsoever to install, even though the entire point of the add-on is to give you a super-fast way to do just that.</p>
<p>Confused? Don’t be. I’m not kidding when I say that the only point to <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/249342/">this add-on</a> is to give you a faster way to restart your browser. Is it this the kind of a tweak that will move mountains? Change your computing experience forevermore? Do anything other than restart your browser? No to all three. However, what else would you expect from an add-on that’s a mere two kilobytes in size? It does its job as well as you would ever expect—it restarts your browser when you call for it.</p>
<p>Not only can you perform this backbreaking task via a little link in your File menu but, if you’re even more hardcore than that, you can hit the keyboard combination of control, alt, and “r” to send your browser off for a brief reincarnation. Voila. Enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/firefox_1111restart.png" alt="" width="310" height="417" /></p>
<p>Download it <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/249342/">here</a>!</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/firefox_add-_week_restartless_restart-411#commentsautomateautomaticbrowserclosefirefox add-on of the weekInternetopenRefreshreopenrestartwebWeb ExclusiveMon, 22 Nov 2010 16:34:06 +0000David Murphy15567 at http://www.maximumpc.comDownload of the Week: DropFoldershttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/download_week_dropfolders
<!--paging_filter--><p>I’m a sucker for automation at Maximum PC – If I can’t find some kind of application that will automatically perform all the time-sucking computer tasks that I like (or would like) to do, then I just haven’t done my job correctly. Now, was there only an app to automate the process of finding these apps… but I digress.</p>
<p>This week’s download of the week carries on in the spirit of “don’t lift a finger to accomplish a task” kinds of applications by giving you a super-quick way to transform videos from one format into another. There’s just one caveat—two, technically. You have to have Handbrake installed and, more importantly, you kind of have to know what you’re doing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<object width="400" height="225" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12337742&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12337742&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0" /></object></p>
<p>That’s because this week’s “Download of the Week,” an app called <a href="http://ctl.du.edu/staff/josephlabrecque/DropFolders/">DropFolders</a>, uses the power of the Handbrake command line interface to convert your videos without demanding any direction from you to do so. Huh? Yes, that’s right. DropFolders will automatically scan folders you specify for any new content. When something arrives, it gets processed according to whatever command-line arguments you’ve typed into the app. And, of course, said output file gets dumped into a directory you choose once the Handbrake is all done.</p>
<p>If you’re planning on shifting around a bunch of watched folders and arguments, then you’ll surely find DropFolders’ built-in presets functionality to be ever-so-useful. I, for one, would hate to have to keep a separate text file of all the command-line arguments that one could possibly dump into this app at any given moment. Nevertheless, DropFolders is an excellent tool for the power-converter—especially one who doesn’t want to have to fire up good ol’ Handbrake for each new video that comes in.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://ctl.du.edu/staff/josephlabrecque/DropFolders/">here</a>!</p>
<p><strong>Technology journalist and former Maximum PC Editor <a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy</a> hasn’t converted a video in months. To balance that out, he’s watched thousands of Youtube cat videos in the meantime.</strong></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/download_week_dropfolders#commentsautomaticconvertdownload of the weekfilefolderformathandbrakescanvideoWeb ExclusiveFri, 08 Oct 2010 15:00:27 +0000David Murphy14944 at http://www.maximumpc.comFive Freeware Apps for Extreme File Managementhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/five_freeware_apps_extreme_file_management-4415
<!--paging_filter--><p>It takes a special kind of finesse to manipulate the various files scattered across your system like Minority Report’s John Anderton. Was there only a piece of freeware that allowed one to transform one’s monitor into a touchscreen for such a purpose.</p>
<p>But I digress. I’m not referring to the actual means of tossing files around with one’s hands. Rather, I’m just trying to use a metaphor to illustrate the fluid-like motion that some people have with their systems: files, commands, and folders flinging all around the place like a robot on speed. Not many people have this kind of mastery over their file systems; In fact, I’ve only met one person who’s ever been able to display such rapid synchronizations of keyboard and mouse to organize one’s files.</p>
<p>What am I getting at? It’s tough to be a whiz of file management. Which is exactly why a number of freeware and open-source applications look to automate or otherwise enhance your ability to interact and arrange the very data strewn about on your PC. From applications that automatically delete files and folders at a given time, to apps that allow you to copy complex directory structures sans files, to apps that turn your folders into automated image resizing machines… there’s an app for seemingly anything you want to do with your PC’s files.</p>
<p>I’ve picked out five general apps that are must-haves for those that want hardcore control over their hard drives. Anything else—as the commercial goes--would be uncivilized.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://cyber-d.blogspot.com/2005/10/cyber-ds-auto-delete-101.html">Autodelete</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_filemana1.png" alt="" width="415" height="349" /></p>
<p>We’ll make the first one a destructive one. I can’t think of a particular use case offhand—perhaps you just want to keep your default download folder free, or you want to remove all traces of your My Documents folder every night, or something equally clandestine like that. Suffice, Autodelete is an app that allows you mark folders and empty them according to a set time schedule. Say, for example, you want to nuke everything in your “C:\Don’t Look At Me\” directory every 3 days. That’s easy enough to do with Autodelete. And, furthermore, say you want to nuke everything in the folder that isn’t a .jpg file—again, filters built into the app give you total control over that which is heading to the big hard drive in the sky.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://cyber-d.blogspot.com/2005/10/cyber-ds-auto-delete-101.html">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.scanialabs.com/Products/Miroirs/Miroirs.aspx">Miroirs</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_filemana2.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>Here’s a fun one. Suppose you have a project that you have to accomplish on a given time period—every two months, let’s say—or suppose that you have yearly projects that you want to, well, replicate each year. By that, I mean that you need to basically take 2010’s folder structure on your system and redo it with a 2011 designation. Easy enough, right? Just copy the folder and rename it?</p>
<p>Ahh-ha-ha. You’ll copy over all 1,583 files within your tree of folders as well, requiring you to go through and manually delete them all… unless you have Mirorirs, that is. This app performs a simple function, but it does so quite well—it replicates a directory structure, folders only, without including any of the files within. That’s it. Simple and easy, but it’s an essential tool for those that often need to build new empty directory trees at a moment’s notice.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.scanialabs.com/Products/Miroirs/Miroirs.aspx">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.dropresize.com/">Dropresize</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_filemana3.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="353" /></p>
<p>Given that (nearly) every week, I’m having to resize countless screenshots of freeware applications just to post to ol’ Maximum Pee Cee Dot Com, there’s nothing I’d like more than to be able to just dump these images somewhere and have them resize themselves. Far-fetched idea, isn’t it? Nope. Dropresize is an app that grants you access to just this kind of a feature. Using the tool, you designate a particular folder for the app to “watch.” Whenever you drop images into this folder, they’re automatically resized and saved to whatever size you see fit—yes, you can have multiple folders resize files to multiple lengths and widths.</p>
<p>If you so desire, you can even have Dropresize create backups for the files it resizes, just in case you want to keep the original alongside your new image. Can you say… best application ever? I can.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.dropresize.com/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://alexbss.altervista.org/">jMultiFilesAndDirsCopy</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_filemana4.png" alt="" width="415" height="441" /></p>
<p>While we can’t give it points for the name, we can certainly give this Java-based app a point or two for its usefulness. I’m not going to repeat said name for fear of running past my normal word count for these updates, but suffice, this useful app allows you to copy files to more than one directory at once. In fact, you can copy as many files as you want to as many different locations on your hard drive at the touch of a button—preventing you from having to spend hours dragging and dropping files to the 50+ destination folders on your system.</p>
<p>And before you ask, yes, this does work with multiple external storage devices as well. If you have a ton of USB drives that all need to have identical contents, just set this app up, let it run, and go watch some television or something. Ta-da!</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://alexbss.altervista.org/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://eraser.heidi.ie/">Eraser</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_filemana5.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t bring up good-ol’ Eraser in the context of file management. After all, controlling how your files get deleted is just as important as trying to orchestrate how they get copied, or resized, or what-have-you. If you want to add a crazy amount of repeated, secure deletion activities that thoroughly shred your data upon its removal from your file system, then Eraser is a perfect, lightweight solution to ensure that your removed files will remain unrecoverable.</p>
<p>Not only is the app easy to use, but it can install an option to engage the program directly from your right-click context menu. With but a few hits of the mouse, your unwanted files are—for all intents—nuked, be it at the time of deletion, from your recycle bin, or on the next restart of your PC. Take that, ambitious Geek Squad employees.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://eraser.heidi.ie/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy (@ Acererak)</a>&nbsp;is a technology journalist and former Maximum PC editor. He writes weekly columns about the wide world of open-source as well as weekly roundups of awesome, freebie software. What the heck happened to his headshot thumbnail?&nbsp; Hrmmm.<br /></strong></span></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/five_freeware_apps_extreme_file_management-4415#commentsappsautomaticcopydeleteeraseexplorerfilefreewarelistmanagementopen-sourceresizeroundupsecureWindowsFeaturesWeb ExclusiveFri, 13 Aug 2010 15:32:47 +0000David Murphy13949 at http://www.maximumpc.com5 Freeware Apps to Enrich Your Starcraft 2 Experience!http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/5_freeware_apps_enrich_your_starcraft_2_experience-953
<!--paging_filter--><p>I’m amazed you’re even reading this. Not because the quality of the prose is lacking in this week’s roundup of open-source and freeware applications, mind you. Rather, if you haven’t noticed by the coverage (and advertising) permeating just about every known tech site in the universe right now, Starcraft 2 just came out. It’s a miracle I’ve been able to tear myself away from defending humanity to write this but, well, my heart for free software is just too strong.</p>
<p>While it would be awesome to give you some kind of “Top 5 ways to get Starcraft 2 for free” article or something like that, it’s just not happening. And no, before you ask, there really aren’t any launchers or applications specifically designed for the game that can give you some kind of competitive edge or awesome third-party tie-in just yet. Wishful, if not silly thinking, no?</p>
<p>However, that’s not to say that applications don’t exist that could otherwise <em>enhance</em> your Starcraft 2 gaming experience in some capacity. Like I said, nothing’s been written specifically for the title, but there are a number of useful, free apps that you can use to otherwise bolster your gaming-life-that-just-so-happens-to-be-Blizzard’s-latest-title. I apologize for the tongue-twistedness of it all; simply put, you can use the following 5 apps to make Starcraft 2—or any game—rock just a little bit more.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.karpolan.com/software/auto-mute/">Auto Mute</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_sc2apps1.jpg" alt="" width="330" height="333" /></p>
<p>This one used to happen to me in middle school computer class all the time. You finish your work early and think that you’re going to outsmart everyone by firing up some Duke Nukem for the remaining 30 minutes of class—you’re in the back row so nobody will notice, right? You double-tap the executable and… blammo. Duke Nukem’s theme song is blaring from the PC speakers and you’ve just earned yourself a one-way ticket to some time after school.</p>
<p>Auto Mute is a program that’s designed to prevent such a situation from occurring (and foster stealthy game playing) by automatically muting your speakers whenever your system starts up. It’s as simple as that—a somewhat small utility in its execution but one that’s nevertheless a real lifesaver when you don’t want others to hear what you’re up to (if the incessant clicking doesn’t give it away, that is).</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.karpolan.com/software/auto-mute/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.thewindowsclub.com/start-my-day-utility-automates-daily-windows-tasks">Start My Day</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_sc2apps2.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>This one’s just fun. Suppose you, like me, are extraordinarily lazy and would much prefer to come home to all the lights in your apartment already on, the dinner cooking, the tv playing your favorite show, and your favorite beverage of choice simmering on the coffee table. Well, Start My Day is the digital equivalent of being able to have Starcraft 2—or any app or game—up-and-running the moment you walk in the door.</p>
<p>Simply put, use this app to schedule when you want the various programs on your system to run. You can set them to auto-start with Windows (boring) or at a specific time all alarm-clock style (awesome). Because nothing says “I’m home from work” like a fresh batch of Zerg killing.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.thewindowsclub.com/start-my-day-utility-automates-daily-windows-tasks">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/volumouse.html">Volmouse</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_sc2apps3.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Let nothing stand between one’s game and one’s system settings. In this case, I’m referring to configuration options like the various volume levels you can set for individual programs in Windows 7, your screen’s brightness, and other various settings you can toggle in the OS. Volmouse is a simple application that allows you to assign hotkey and mouse wheel combinations to such settings. In effect, this gives you a way to alter Windows properties like sound, brightness, and transparency just by holding a predetermined key and flicking your finger.</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/volumouse.html">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/taksi/">Taksi</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_sc2apps4.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Recording videos from the various games you play (for Youtube-based bragging rights) is a real pain in the Protoss. And while the open-source app Taksi makes it a lot easier to get these movies from most titles on your system, it’s not and end-all solution for all titles. I haven’t gotten a chance to try this myself with ol’ Starcraft 2, but some users have reported that it doesn’t work very well with Blizzard’s latest creation. Suffice, it’s completely free and allows you to specify the custom codec by which your movies will eventually, er, be saved. Take that, Fraps?</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/taksi/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.gameprotector.com/">GameProtector</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u16580/daveblog_sc2apps5.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>As always, I’ve saved the big one for last. Let nobody touch your multitude of saved games, achievements, and general Starcraft 2 record awesomeness, for it would be a real shame if a friend, roommate, or loved one got on your account and started losing game, after game, after game. Get the point?</p>
<p>The handy utility GameProtector allows you to password-lock any game on your system such that nobody will be able to log on as you (or merely fire up the game) and affect your hard-earned accolades in any fashion. Your saved games will be safe; your perfect multiplayer record will stay pristine; and you will probably be hated by anyone you share a living quarters with. But, hey, they’re your games! Nobody else’s!</p>
<p>Download it <a href="http://www.gameprotector.com/">here</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy (@ Acererak)</a>&nbsp;is a technology journalist and former Maximum PC editor. He writes weekly columns about the wide world of open-source as well as weekly roundups of awesome, freebie software. He probably needs to go spawn some more overlords now, however.<br /></strong></span></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/5_freeware_apps_enrich_your_starcraft_2_experience-953#commentsappsautomaticblizzardcontrolfreewaregameskeyboardlaunchlistmouseroundupStarCraftFeaturesWeb ExclusiveFri, 30 Jul 2010 01:00:23 +0000David Murphy13743 at http://www.maximumpc.comChrome Extension of the Week: After the Deadlinehttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_after_deadline
<!--paging_filter--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><p>A recent litany of comments to various Maximum PC articles reminded me of a particular extension for Google Chrome that is, hands-down, one of the best add-ons you can possibly grab for the browser. And I'm totally serious this time. This extension doesn't wiggle the screen, play dumb music, or otherwise summon some kind of cutesy effect overtop your browsing session.</p>
<p>The extension, <a href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/fcdjadjbdihbaodagojiomdljhjhjfho">After the Deadline</a>, is a comprehensive spelling- and grammar-checking application that will help you turn any hunk of normal, crudely written prose into something that will look like it was typed by 900 monkeys sitting in a room (Shakespeare). The only sticking point to this super-helpful extension is that it allegedly works best in the beta versions of Chrome. I tried it in the &quot;common&quot; version of the Chome, however, and couldn't find any issues to report. </p>
<p>Just make sure that, prior to activating the spelling and grammar checking, you've actually gone and enabled some of the different scanning options via the extension's configuration screen. As well, After the Deadline doesn't just activate by default within Chrome--you have to mash the default shortcut of ctrl+shift+S for the extension to fire up its spelling-correcting goodness.</p>
<p>After that, however, you're in the clear. Be prepared for an onslaught of postings that... are grammatically correct! Emails that fly out full of intelligence and wit! Capital letters to start sentences! The possibilities are endless. </p>
<p>Even though Chrome itself has a spell-checker, After the Deadline ratchets up the awesomeness a little bit by catching both grammatically inappropriate <em>and</em> poorly constructed forms of writing--like clichés. Now if there was only a way to have it automatically delete all instances of adverb use...</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/chrome_afterthedeadline.png" width="415" height="243" /></div>
<p><span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Chrome extension as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span> </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_after_deadline#commentsautomaticblogcheckchrome extension of the weekimprovepostWeb ExclusiveThu, 13 May 2010 21:58:53 +0000David Murphy12412 at http://www.maximumpc.comChrome Extension of the Week: ...Fit to Printhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_fit_print
<!--paging_filter--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><p>I'm not old, but I often find that the print versions of certain websites--literally, the button you click on that would otherwise format and send said articles directly to your hardware printer--are a lot easier on the eyes than their link-filled, advertising-drenched, &quot;normal&quot; counterparts. </p>
<p>But to get to this most sacred and pleasant of pages for any given article, you physically have to click the &quot;print&quot; button for everything you're trying to read. And when you're done, you have to back out an extra step in your browser--once to take you back to the &quot;normal&quot; version of the page, and once more to return to where you were previously. That's a lot of work just to treat yourself to a more eye-friendly format for Web text.</p>
<p>Of course, I wouldn't mention a problem if I didn't have a solution. In this case, the Chrome Extension &quot;<a href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/lpfleejledmlelbpnpbkmgahefojhahg">...Fit to Print</a>&quot; is not only an excellent, automatic solution for jumping to any site's &quot;print&quot; version, but it's also a clever play on a common journalistic phrase. That's bonus points right there.</p>
<p>Anyway, this extension is super-simple to use. Install it, and... that's it. Whenever you surf over to an article that has a corresponding &quot;print&quot; version instead of the normal Web view, the extension will automatically take you the former instead of the latter. If you get sick of this treatment, one click of your mouse button will toggle the extension on and off via a little button next to Chrome's address bar. Your eyes will thank you for this, trust me.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/chrome_fittoprint.jpg" width="415" height="149" /></div>
<p>
</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Chrome extension as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span> </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_fit_print#commentsautomaticchrome extension of the weekcustomizeprintviewwebWeb ExclusiveTue, 04 May 2010 15:30:33 +0000David Murphy12240 at http://www.maximumpc.comChrome Extension of the Week: Clickable Linkshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_clickable_links
<!--paging_filter--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><p>Woe to the Web designer who lists hyperlinkable text as such instead of appending a URL. You know what I'm talking about - when an errant Web designer spells out something like &quot;go to maximumpc.com for an awesome column,&quot; yet doesn't actually make the &quot;maximumpc.com&quot; part of the phrase into a clickable hyperlink. This practice is not only annoying, but it really does defeat the entire point of a hyperlink to begin with. </p>
<p>Right?</p>
<p>I sure don't like copying and pasting URLs, or email addresses, into various browsers or applications. And I'm not being petty with this complaint. I surf faster when I can click, bookmark, and open potentially interesting links into new tabs. If I had to copy and paste a significant majority of the links I frequent, I might just give up on the Web entirely--and I bet you would too.</p>
<p>Well, don't let that ship sail just yet, because the Google Chrome extension <a href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/mblbciejcodpealifnhfjbdlkedplodp">Clickable Links</a> does exactly what its name implies. This super-helpful add-on cleverly scans through Web pages to find instances where links or email addresses have been written as straight text instead of clickable links. And, as you might guess, the extension goes and transforms these bits and pieces into working hyperlinks--just as ol' Tim Berners-Lee intended, right?</p>
<p>Future improvements to the extension include the ability to automatically open these links into a new tab instead of a current tab, a practice that can already be accomplished by simply using the middle mouse button the click on everything, if you so desire. That's about it, though. There's not <em>much</em> going on with Clickable Links, but this little extension--more a utility for your Web browser--does its part to better your surfing experience.</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/google_clickablelinks.png" width="410" height="323" /></div>
<p> <span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Chrome extension as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_clickable_links#commentsautomaticchromechrome extension of the weekemailFTPGooglehttphyperlinklinksURLWeb ExclusiveThu, 29 Apr 2010 15:00:43 +0000David Murphy12183 at http://www.maximumpc.comChrome Extension of the Week: JoinTabshttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_jointabs
<!--paging_filter--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><p>It doesn't happen <em>that</em> often, but, sometimes, your favorite Web sites insist on loading links on their pages into a new browser window. That, or you simply like having multiple instances of Chrome running in separate windows-I won't judge your preference. That's cool.</p>
<p>So, when this does happen, how do you go about reducing your multiple windows to a single browser entity that's split into multiple tabs? You could always drag-and-drop these separate windows into a single Chrome instance, but that can be a time-consuming, laborious process depending on just how many different windows you might have open at once. A quaint little extension called <a href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/binjiceocgbfooocmheaenmmcominbpe">JoinTabs</a> eliminates this difficulty by giving you a one-shot button that automatically mashes all of your open windows into one, tab-drenched browser.</p>
<p>How does it work? Simple. Install the extension and click the icon (or hit control + m on your keyboard) to start the process. JoinTabs will condense all of your open Chrome windows into a single browser and transform your many open pages into their own tabs. If you're lazy, you can also set this action to automatically occur for any &quot;new window&quot; instances using JoinTabs' configuration screen. And if you want to exclude any given window type from being pulled down into a single browser instance (like developer tools or tabs you've manually extracted into a new window), you can set those options in the configuration panel as well.</p>
<p>Simple, easy, efficient... JoinTabs does much to help you keep your Internet browsing organized without too many details to worry about! </p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/chrome_jointabs.png" width="410" height="113" /></div>
<p><span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Chrome extension as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span> </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_jointabs#commentsautomaticchromechrome extension of the weekGoogleNewOrganizetabswindowWeb ExclusiveThu, 22 Apr 2010 15:00:17 +0000David Murphy12068 at http://www.maximumpc.comChrome Extension of the Week: Page Monitorhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_page_monitor
<!--paging_filter--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><p>Simple. Easy. Efficient. <a href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/pemhgklkefakciniebenbfclihhmmfcd">Page Monitor</a> is one of the most stress-free extensions you could possibly slap onto Google Chrome. However, don't let its simplicity fool you--the feature it builds into the browser sits somewhere between a Twitter and an RSS feed, yet it's one that is still entirely useful for anyone who checks a batch of favorite Web pages on a daily basis. That would be all of you.</p>
<p>Page Monitor drops a tiny little icon to the right of Chrome's address bar--as many of these extensions do. Surf on over to the Web sites you check on a pretty frequent basis and, once there, click on the icon and select the &quot;Monitor this Page&quot; option. You're done. Whenever Page Monitor notices an update to said page, it'll turn the icon green (with a number detailing just how many of your pages have been updated). </p>
<p>Click on the button again and select the &quot;view changes&quot; option under any of the Web sites that have been marked as updated. One of the extension's coolest features awaits you: It'll automatically show you the difference between the last-noticed version of the page and the update, akin to how Wikipedia shows you the changes between two revisions of the same Web page. Not only does this extension tell you that something has been updated, it does everything in its power to make it easier for you to <em>notice</em> said update. That's awesome.</p>
<p>You'll obviously want to jump into the extension's settings and change the update interval. It's not as if your favorite pages just tell your browser the second they've been updated. The extension's default checking time of 180 minutes is a wee high for my tastes. Drop that lower--and add a sound to alert you that something new is afoot--and you'll never miss an important Web page update ever again. Ever.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/chrome_pagemonitor.png" width="409" height="175" /></div>
<p>
</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Chrome extension as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span></span> </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_page_monitor#commentsautomaticbrowserchangechrome extension of the weekfeedGooglemonitorpagerssscanupdatewebWeb ExclusiveWed, 24 Mar 2010 17:01:07 +0000David Murphy11596 at http://www.maximumpc.comWeb App of the Week: Codeorganhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/web_app_week_codeorgan
<!--paging_filter--><p>A thousand pardons! I got so caught up in various bits and pieces of the weekend that I completely forgot to grace Maximum PC with a Web App of the Week for last week! It's a real shame too, as I was totally proud of (and wasted a lot of time playing with) last week's big selection.</p>
<p>I won't put off the details any more than necessary with my usual rambling introductions. The app's called Codeorgan and, like the name implies, it's an excellent fusion of raw geek Web construction with music--truly, my two passions. </p>
<p>So what <em>is</em> <a href="http://www.codeorgan.com/">Codeorgan</a>? You'll find out pretty quickly as soon as you hit up the main Web site. In short, the Web app uses a fairly complicated algorithm to scan the behind-the-scenes HTML content of any given Web page. It then takes this information and automatically crafts up a little synthpop-style piece of music that's somehow related to the coded mumbo-jumbo. Your results will vary (extremely). However, the beauty of the app isn't necessarily for the music it creates. Rather, it's just a great example of how data in one construct--Web creation--can be parsed out to a completely different form and function--music--with a touch of engineering prowess.</p>
<p>That, and Codeorgan will waste two to three hours of your day as you frantically leap about the Web trying to find the coolest automatic construction of a song that you can lay your hands on. I had great results with CNN one day, yet found the song lacking as the news updated throughout the next few hours. If you find a relatively static site that delivers a rocking beat, do be sure to leave it in the comments! </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/webapp_codeorgan.jpg" width="415" height="283" /></div>
<p>
</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><em>Each week, Maximum PC picks a new free or shareware download as its favorite of... the week. Have a nifty application that you can't live without? Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a> with your latest suggestions.</em></strong> </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/web_app_week_codeorgan#commentsalgorithmautomaticcodecreatecssengineerhtmljammusicplaySiteURLweb app of the weekWeb ExclusiveMon, 08 Mar 2010 16:00:01 +0000David Murphy11286 at http://www.maximumpc.comChrome Extension of the Week: uTorrent for Google Chromehttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_utorrent_google_chrome
<!--paging_filter--><p>Unlike <a href="/article/web_exclusive/firefox_addon_week_bittorrent_webui">its companion addon</a> for Firefox, the Chrome Extension uTorrent for Google Chrome doesn't actually give you any way to remotely add a torrent to a uTorrent client that's running on a different, Web-connected system. That's kind of funny, considering that the uTorrent Firefox addon doesn't give you a way to control what's actually being downloaded by the remote system--Google Chrome's extension does.</p>
<p>It's a weird mish-mash of features, but it doesn't mean that <a href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/jjhaafelbmbpohgmabippkndaaikgdih">uTorrent for Google Chrome</a> is any less valuable of an addon for your daily browsing. If you're a BitTorrent junkie, you'll find this addon to be a considerable upgrade from the experience of having to load the default uTorrent Web UI every time you want to check on (or edit) your downloads.</p>
<p>Web UI... remote BitTorrent... this might be <a href="/article/features/freeware_files_bittorrent_bittorrent_bittorrent_five_apps_maximum_downloading">a bit over your head</a>. Let's back out for a second and take a more general look at what this extension actually does. The uTorrent app comes with a nifty little feature--a Web UI--that allows you to remotely &quot;log in&quot; to your BitTorrent client. It's a great tool for when you want to capitalize on the fast speeds of your home (or office) Internet connection, yet do much of your actual browsing in the various coffee shops, libraries, or other WiFi hotspots around your community. You can fire up this Web interface to do everything you could normally do if you were sitting right in front of your running uTorrent app: start downloads, stop downloads, pause downloads, label downloads, et cetera.</p>
<p>The aforementioned Chrome Extension takes all of this functionality--and the painful process of typing in a large URL to access said Web UI--and slaps it into a tiny button near the address bar in your browser. You can't add new files, but you can check and see the status of your downloads using a pretty visual bar that indicates the percentage done. You can also get a quick look at your client's upload and download speeds, the estimated time remaining for your download, and the exact number of seeds and peers that are also grabbing the files in question. Of course, you can also perform all the basic uTorrent commands: starting files, stopping files, deleting files, et cetera. </p>
<p>It's small, it's pretty, and it's quite useful--save for that whole &quot;adding new files&quot; bit. For a great Google Chrome uTorrent manager, this appropriately titled extension is just what you need.</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/chrome_utorrent.jpg" width="415" height="75" /></div>
<p><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Chrome extension as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span></span> </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/chrome_extension_week_utorrent_google_chrome#commentsautomaticbittorrentchrome extension of the weekdownloadfilehostloadremotetorrenttransferutorrentWeb ExclusiveThu, 11 Feb 2010 01:30:00 +0000David Murphy10827 at http://www.maximumpc.comFirefox Addon of the Week: BitTorrent WebUIhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/firefox_addon_week_bittorrent_webui
<!--paging_filter--><p>Keeping with <a href="/article/features/freeware_files_bittorrent_bittorrent_bittorrent_five_apps_maximum_downloading">my uTorrent/BitTorrent theme</a> this week, it only makes sense to show you how you can go about pulling .torrent files through the Firefox browser. But wait, you say! What am I talking about? Clicking on a .torrent link allows you to open it right up in your client of choice (I'll assume uTorrent for the sake of this post), and that, in turn, slots said file (or magnet link) into the application and begins the download.</p>
<p>Why would you need a fancy addon to do that?</p>
<p>Good point. In fact, you don't need an add-on in Firefox to load torrent files. Where an addon becomes handy is when you're using Firefox from a different computer and would like to somehow get a .torrent file you've found onto the download queue of a different machine. Think it's a strange setup? It's not that uncommon: perhaps you've left your PC on at home to make best use of its super-speedy landline connection, yet you're browsing around various BitTorrent sites at work, in a coffee shop, or in your car. </p>
<p>I guess you could email the .torrent file to yourself and queue it up later. That's lame, especially when a little addon called <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7715">BitTorrent WebUI</a> is ready to do all the work for you!</p>
<p>Here's how it works. Go into your uTorrent preferences menu and turn on the program's WebUI feature. You can change the default login and password if you want (I recommend it). Install the BitTorrent WebUI addon and restart Firefox. When your browser loads back up, it'll want you to put in your system's IP address as well as the port that uTorrent uses for its connections. Select uTorrent as the client, then hit OK.</p>
<p>Assuming that uTorrent is running on your main computer--and that's a critical factor--then you'll now be able to click on any .torrent link in your browser and load it into your main system's uTorrent client. Simple as that. You can now start BitTorrent downloads (or access the Web UI to do much, much more!) via any computer with the configured addon installed!</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/firefox_utorrent.jpg" width="415" height="233" /></div>
<p><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><strong><em>Maximum PC picks one new Firefox add-on as its favorite of the week each... week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></span></span></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/firefox_addon_week_bittorrent_webui#commentsautomaticbittorrentdownloadfilefirefox addon of the weekhostloadremotetorrenttransferutorrentWeb ExclusiveWed, 10 Feb 2010 18:00:00 +0000David Murphy10826 at http://www.maximumpc.comDownload of the Week: New Folder Wizardhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/done_download_week_new_folder_wizard
<!--paging_filter--><p>Sometimes, you just need to make some folders--a <em>lot</em> of folders. More than 5 folders, more than twenty folders, more than a hundred folders--you need to generate more folders than you've ever created in a single setting. Maybe this is for work, maybe you're finally getting organized with all the pictures you've taken over the past five years, or maybe you just like makin' folders. </p>
<p>Either way, the typical folder creation process goes a little something like this: you find an open directory, you right-click somewhere, you select &quot;new folder,&quot; and you repeat this process a thousand times (with a few extra hours thrown in for renaming).</p>
<p>Fun, huh?</p>
<p>A handy little application has just come to my attention and, by handy, I mean, &quot;it saves you countless hours of having to repeat the aforementioned frustrating process.&quot; If you've ever needed to create and customize a number of folders in a single sitting,then you'll definitely want to behold the wonders of this week's top download: <a href="http://www.newfolderwizard.com/index.html">New Folder Wizard</a>! </p>
<p>The basic functionality of New Folder Wizard is a lot like the freeware application &quot;Renamer,&quot; a longtime favorite at Maximum PC. You start by suggesting a base name for your folders--a prefix like &quot;pictures,&quot; although you can also use a predefined list of names from a secondary text file as the basis for all your folder titles. If you're opting for the prefix route, you can also append a suffix to your folder, which will stick whatever custom notations you want on the end of the name that's created. In the middle of the prefix and suffix can also go a number, which New Folder Wizard will sequentially fill in based on whatever starting point, step, and ending point you configure.</p>
<p>And that's about it. These simple rules allow you to set up a new hierarchy of up to 20,000 folders at a time. If you're opted for the &quot;use a text file to name my folders&quot; route, you can also establish as many sub-folders within folders as you want. New Folder Wizard delivers powerful functionality that's light-years ahead of Windows' default solution.</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/appweek_newfolder.jpg" width="415" height="521" /></div>
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</p><p><strong><em>Each week, Maximum PC picks a new free or shareware download as its favorite of... the week. Have a nifty application that you can't live without? Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a> with your latest suggestions.</em></strong></p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/done_download_week_new_folder_wizard#commentsautomaticcreatedownload of the weekexplorerfoldermanagementOrganizerenamertaskWindowsWeb ExclusiveThu, 21 Jan 2010 18:30:58 +0000David Murphy10392 at http://www.maximumpc.comFirefox Add-on of the Week: Auto Shutdownhttp://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/done_firefox_addon_week_auto_shutdown
<!--paging_filter--><p>While it would be nice to have unlimited access to a T1 connection for huge downloads (here's looking at you, <em>World of Warcraft </em>patches), that's just not the case for a majority of users today. We can't all download Linux builds at our work computers. Sometimes, one just has to grin and bear it--&quot;it&quot; being the act of leaving one's computer on overnight for a furious session of non-peak-hour downloading.</p>
<p>Here's the problem: When said download finishes sometime in the wee hours of the night, your computer stays on. That might not be the biggest deal in the world for a single session or two, but suppose you're a mega-downloader. Suppose you're the kind of guy or gal who's always grabbing new files, new updates, new builds of this and that--in short, you're the reason Comcast invented service limitations. Well, it wouldn't be in your best interest to leave your computer on all the time. Computers are noisy. Computers use power. Computers produce heat. </p>
<p>Thus enters this week's Firefox add-on of the week: <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5452">Auto Shutdown</a>. As the name implies, this quick little addition to your Firefox browser adds some critical functionality to your downloads, be they through Firefox's built-in download manager or the popular add-on DownThemAll. </p>
<p>How does it work? Simple. Install the add-on, and you can set Firefox to automatically shut down your computer once your downloads have finished. You can build extra seconds' worth of delay into the shutdown process, and even tell the add-on to turn off your computer once a set period of idle time has gone by. If you're really brave, you can even edit the customized system scripts that the add-on uses to shut down your system. I wouldn't recommend doing so unless you <em>really</em> know what you're doing, however. Just sit back, download away, and let this add-on turn off your computer when Firefox is done.</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><img src="/files/u16580/firefox_shutdown.jpg" width="415" height="423" /></div>
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<p><strong><em>Every Tuesday, Maximum PC picks a new Firefox add-on as its favorite of the week. Have a nifty extension that you can't live without? Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/acererak">David Murphy @acererak</a> with your latest suggestions.</em></strong> </p>
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/web_exclusive/done_firefox_addon_week_auto_shutdown#commentsadd-onautomaticbatterydownloadenergyextensionfirefoxMozillasaveshutdownSoftwareWeb ExclusiveWed, 16 Dec 2009 00:15:00 +0000David Murphy9744 at http://www.maximumpc.com